The Tour of Utah begins this evening with a short time trial that starts and ends near the State Capitol in Salt Lake City. After four stages of "America's Toughest Stage Race," the Tour of Utah concludes next Sunday with a 90 minute downtown SLC criterium.

There's an interesting mix of local shop teams, Under 23 development squads, and local boy David Zabriskie riding solo representing Garmin Slipstream. The Continental teams include some Euro veterans and big names like Floyd Landis, Freddie Rodriguez and Oscar Sevilla; they'll certainly give Z a run for his money. Fly V is coming in from Australia. The "KFAN Composite Team" is a team put together by the local sports radio station KJZZ.

I see some northern California names on the race roster, including Ben Jacques-Maynes of Watsonville and Jackson Stewart of Los Gatos.